[Typhoid]

While I agree that that type of price gouging is pretty weak and ultimately utterly lame, Microsoft (via XBL) does it all the time, and it's no big deal by anyone. Granted, EA bought the rights to the NFL games, however they definitely didn't "start" the price gouging. They just joined in. Take games like Halo (just for example). How many map packs and add-ons go into games like that? While you may sit there and say "But yeah, that changes the game, and adds a new element", I will counter that with "The create-a-play mode also entirely changes the game and adds an element to it."


Marvel Ultimate Alliance had you buying extra characters which should have been in the original game itself, characters who are (as far as I know) in MA2 - yet I wouldn't doubt that they will release more character packs.

Heaven forbid you want new songs for Rock Band or Guitar Hero. You better break out the credit card for that, too.

Let alone paying for online play in itself. You pay for the system, game, add-ons, internet connection and the ability to play via XBL.



Now, I'm not saying that what EA did was super fantastic and not gouging, but they didn't start the trend. They just realized people will pay.